The Indian cricket team are set to return to action in a five‑Test series in England, a tour that signals both an ending and a beginning. While the Aussies benefitted from retirement farewells, this series marks India’s full entry into a new Test cycle, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli having recently retired from the format. The impact of their departures will filter through the batting order while newcomers and familiar faces gear up for fresh responsibility. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s retirement from the Test format poses questions as to which young players will be able to stand up and take their place. This article talks about how India will line up in the Tests against England.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been the pillars of the Indian cricket team for quite a while, and now that both of them have retired from Test cricket, it may cause a problem. Replacing their experience is no small task. “It will always be big holes to fill,” acknowledged Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of selectors. However, the men in blue are ready to embrace the challenge. The biggest change has been in leadership. Rohit Sharma was the captain of the Indian cricket team, and now that he has retired from the Test format, a new captain has been appointed. The selectors decided that Shubman Gill would be the perfect player to succeed Rohit Sharma as India’s Test captain.
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With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retiring from Test cricket, players like Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair are now in contention to make the starting Test lineup. There have been various reports giving different positions to different players, but now it looks like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan might end up opening, with KL Rahul coming in at number three. This will see Shubman Gill drop to number four and take on the role of Virat Kohli, one of the best players in Test cricket history. This batting lineup is expected to be followed by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Washington Sundar to make sure India’s batting is very strong and deep.
B Sai Sudharsan, a frontrunner to bat at No. 3 for India on his Test debut, was seen working with coach Gambhir and captain Gill over the last two days in Beckenham ▶️ https://t.co/j1OZRZKPu2 pic.twitter.com/KHjuHX3qCS
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 10, 2025
The three bowlers who will mostly complete this team will be Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Prasidh Krishna. This leaves no spot for Karun Nair, and the talented batsman, who has been in incredible form, will have to fight for a place with Sai Sudharsan if he is to play in the starting XI. If Karun Nair does end up making the team, it is likely that KL Rahul will be played as an opener, and Karun Nair will come in at number three. No spot has been guaranteed as of now, and only time will tell us what lineup India will put out in the Test series against England and how the new team will fare.
India’s 2025 England tour is more than a series; it’s a ritual of rebirth. The retirements of Kohli and Rohit define closure, but India’s bench strength and leadership vision offer promise. This tour will say as much about raw talent as about the resilience, depth and planning of the Men in Blue. If the new-look side copes under pressure, England’s gates could open for an India resurgence in Tests. If not, fans and critics alike will question whether India’s golden era was built on fleeting brilliance or true structural strength. This series has all the makings of drama. It’s going to be a pushing match, demanding the definition of India’s next era under the leadership of Shubman Gill.
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Guransh Machra is a sportswriter at Gutshot Magazine. He covers football news from local leagues like the Indian Super League as well as international leagues like the Premier League. He follows various sports like Football, Cricket, Formula 1, and Tennis. Apart from sports, Guransh is also enthusiastic about reading and gaming.